• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / June 27 have it if this passes is, to put it mildly, a stretch and ask them to make these decisions based of reality. on what is good for the health of Americans, As front-line providers, you know the truth. what is good for the economy of America, and You know the health care truth, and you know how it will affect your institution in terms of the financial truth. The significance, again, of health care and finances. If we can get beyond this meeting today is this to me. I spent a lot the politics to the reality, we can prevail here. of time in academic health care centers. I know And I want you to do that. You can do that. that the people who run them are both Demo- You can do that. crats and Republicans and independents. Maybe As much as any group in AmericaÐI don't even some of them voted for the third-party knowÐwhen I started talking to Members of candidate last time. I know that the board mem- Congress, that's the one thing I found that with- bers of academic health care centers are both out regard to their party, their philosophy, or Republicans and Democrats. I know that where their predisposition on health care reform, they they serve, there is almost fanatic support for all knew that they had a medical center in their them among people from all walks of life. In home State they were terribly proud of. other words, the American people, when they And so I ask you, as we close this ceremony deal with you in your communities and in your today, to commit to make a personal contact States, put politics behind and put health care and a personal appeal to every Member of the first and ask, what are the facts? What are the Congress from your State to put politics aside health care facts? What is the state of medical and put the health care of the American people knowledge? What is the financial truth? first. If we can do that, and if people understand If we could just get those three questions that you represent what is best in American asked and answered in the Congress of the health care and we can't preserve what is best United States, we would get a health care bill unless we fix what is wrong and cover every- that covers all Americans. In other words, if body, that central understanding will carry the we could have people of both parties bring to American people to a victorious result. the deliberations of the law in Congress less We need you. You have done your country politics and more concern for health care, the a great service today. Please follow it up in way you do and the way you force people to talking firstly with the Members of Congress. deal with you just because of what you do, we Thank you so very much. would pass a bill in this session of Congress, with bipartisan support, that guarantees health care to all Americans. This surely is not a polit- NOTE: The President spoke at 12:22 p.m. in the ical issue. East Room at the White House. In his remarks, What I want to ask you to do today isÐ he referred to Dr. William Peck, dean, Wash- we're all here today preaching to the saved, ington University Medical Center; Dr. Mitch as we say at home, and hoping that through Rabkin, president, Beth Israel Hospital; Dr. Mi- the magic of the media it will reach others. chael Johns, dean, Johns Hopkins Medical School; But I want to ask you to personally, personally, Dr. Herbert Pardes, dean, Columbia University commit that you will speak to the Members Medical School; and Dr. Charles Epps, dean, of the Congress from your State of both parties Howard University Medical School. Remarks Announcing Changes in the White House Staff and an Exchange With Reporters June 27, 1994 The President. Good afternoon. Today I want In the coming months, this White House to announce some changes in personnel in the faces a series of major challenges that are critical White House that will add strength and vitality to the American people. In Congress, we're to this White House and to our administration. seeking to pass the first major health care re- form in history, a sweeping crime bill, a signifi- 1147 June 27 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 cant trade bill, a reemployment act, lobbying that has endeared him to many good people and campaign finance reform, and welfare re- here and throughout the Nation. And I thank form. We're seeking to pursue our continued him for his service. efforts in economic reform and deficit reduction, I am delighted today to say that Leon Panetta producing now 7,000 jobs a week. Overseas we will succeed Mack as White House Chief of face serious issues well-known to all of you. Staff. Over the past year and a half, he has We've embraced an agenda that is not only been a pillar of strength for our administration. daunting but profoundly important to the Amer- In the early days, he was a prime architect of ican people. To meet those challenges, here at the economic strategy, an integrated plan that the White House we must use our people as reduced the deficit and laid the foundation for wisely as possible, matching their talents to their sustained economic growth. Then he took the responsibilities. lead in formulating and gaining passage of that More than a month ago, my Chief of Staff, deficit reduction package, the largest in the his- Mack McLarty, started some discussions with tory of our Republic. He will go down in history me on ideas that he had for a better deployment as the Budget Director who began to slay the of our people. These provided the basic frame- deficit dragon. work for the decisions I announce today. I came In an era of tightening budgets, he also found home from D-Day determined to proceed with ways to fund many of my initiatives to put peo- these changes. He and I worked with the Vice ple first: education, job training, and technology. President and others on these recommendations, He's worked closely with the Vice President in which I am pleased to announce today. reinventing the Government. He's been an inno- Today I'm naming Mack McLarty as Coun- vative adviser in drawing up a host of domestic selor to the President. He has been and will policies. And he has been a skillful manager continue to be my closest and most trusted per- of the more than 500 people who work under sonal adviser. His new role will permit him to his leadership at OMB. As the good citizens spend much more time as my personal rep- of Rome have learned, he also speaks pretty resentative to the people who are so important good Italian. [Laughter] No one in Washington to the success of this administration's efforts, has a better understanding of both ends of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, con- Pennsylvania Avenue than Leon Panetta. And stituent groups of all kinds, friends who helped no one has earned greater respect at both ends. to bring me to the White House. In addition, I am also announcing today that I will nomi- I am asking him to assume greater responsibility nate Alice Rivlin to be the next Director of in shepherding our legislative program through the Office of Management and Budget. She has Congress, including GATT, health care, and wel- been a superb deputy at OMB. She's played fare reform, and to help lay the groundwork a major role in helping to run that organization for summits this year with the Latin and Asian and in chairing the President's Management leaders. Council and in gaining congressional approval Mack McLarty has served this country ably of our budgets. and well as Chief of Staff for 18 months. He She brought with her to this administration was reluctant to take the job, and I will always a long and distinguished record. She was, of be grateful that he did. He selflessly agreed course, the founding director of the Congres- to serve the country, and I would say he has sional Budget Office, serving there for more a record he can be proud of. We had the most than 8 years. And she's written pathbreaking productive first year of working with Congress studies of fiscal policies while at the Brookings of any administration over three decades; the Institution. Economists have recognized her sparking of an economic recovery; 3 years of leadership and her brilliance, electing her in deficit reduction for the first time since the Tru- the past as president of the American Economic man Presidency; breaking gridlock on the Brady Association. In short, OMB will continue to be bill, family leave, assault weapons, and other in very good hands. issues; progress in pushing historic plans for Finally, I want to announce a shorter term health and welfare reform. He's run an open assignment. For the past year I have drawn White House, treating others and their ideas heavily upon the counsel of David Gergen. He with unfailing courtesy. He has, in short, deliv- has been a wise and steady voice for bipartisan- ered with the decency, integrity, and goodwill ship, for moderation, and for an effective Gov- 1148 Administration of William J.

Load more

  4

Copy Link